Long term evolution (LTE) communications over trusted hardware

ABSTRACT

A Long Term Evolution (LTE) communication network transfers data communications for User Equipment (UE). An LTE gateway system exchanges hardware trust data with a server system to maintain hardware trust for the LTE gateway system. An LTE access node processes a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message that contains a trusted bearer requirement for the UE to generate an S1 Application Protocol (S1-AP) initial UE message that contains the trusted bearer requirement for the UE. An LTE management node processes the S1-AP initial UE message to generate a General Packet Radio Service Transfer Protocol (GTP) create session message that contains the trusted bearer requirement for the UE. The LTE gateway system exchanges user data for the UE between the LTE access node and a communication node responsive to the GTP create session message.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Data communication systems transfer data packets between user devicesand machines to provide data communication services like internetaccess, media streaming, and user messaging. Wireless communicationsystems allow users to move about and communicate over the air withaccess communication networks. Wireless data networks provide mobileinternet access, mobile media streaming, and mobile user messaging.

Long Term Evolution (LTE) is a popular wireless data technology. UsingLTE, a wireless User Equipment (UE) detects an evolved-NodeB (eNodeB)base station and responsively exchanges Radio Resource Configuration(RRC) signaling with the eNodeB. The eNodeB then transfers anS1-Application Protocol (S1-AP) message to a Mobility Management Entity(MME), and the MME transfers a Diameter request message to a HomeSubscriber System (HSS). These messages transport data for the UE likethe International Mobile Subscriber Identifier (IMSI), Public LandMobile Network (PLMN), Radio Access Technology (RAT) type, and servingnetwork.

The HSS processes the IMSI, PLMN, RAT type, and serving network toselect an Access Point Name (APN). The HSS transfers a Diameter responseto the MME indicating the APN and associated APN information like aPacket Data Network Gateway (P-GW) Identifier (ID), Packet Data Network(PDN) type, default Quality-of-Service Class Identifier (QCI), anddefault Aggregate Maximum Bit Rate (AMBR).

The MME processes the Diameter response message to generate an S11General Packet Radio Service Transfer Protocol (GTP) message. The S11GTP message indicates the APN and P-GW ID among other data. The MMEtransfers the S11 GTP create session request to a Serving Gateway(S-GW). The S-GW processes the S11 GTP message to generate an S5 GTPmessage. The S5 GTP message also includes the APN and P-GW ID. The S-GWtransfers the S5 GTP create session request to the P-GW.

The P-GW processes the APN and other data to identify an IP address forthe UE. The P-GW processes the S5 GTP message to transfer a Diameterrequest to a Policy Charging Rules Function (PCRF). The Diameter requestindicates the APN, default QCI, and default AMBR. The PCRF applies QoSand accounting rules for the UE based various data inputs. For example,the PCRF may change a QCI or AMBR for a UE based on its APN, IMSI, andPLMN. The PCRF transfers the Diameter response to the P-GW.

The P-GW processes the Diameter response to generate an S5 GTP response.The S5 GTP response indicates the UE IP address and any new QCIs orAMBRs. The P-GW transfers the S5 GTP response to the S-GW, and the S-GWtransfers a corresponding S11 GTP response to the MME. The MME processesthe S11 GTP response to generate an S1-AP message that indicates the UEIP address, the GTP Tunnel Endpoint Identifiers (TEIDs) for the user andcontrol planes, the QCI, AMBR, and the like. The MME transfers the S1-APmessage to the eNodeB. The eNodeB processes the S1-AP message totransfer an RRC message to the UE that indicates the UE IP address,radio bearer, and Non-Access Stratum (NAS) information. The UE, eNodeB,and MME exchange additional messaging to set context before the MMEtransfers S11 modify bearer signaling to the S-GW, and the S-GWtransfers S5 modify bearer signaling to the P-GW. The UE may thenexchange user data over the eNodeB, S-GW, and P-GW.

Hardware trust systems ensure network security and control. The hardwaretrust systems maintain physical separation between trusted hardware anduntrusted hardware. The trust systems control software access to thetrusted hardware but allow interaction between open and secure softwarecomponents through secure bus interfaces, memories, time slices, andswitching circuits. The trust systems establish trust with one anotherby using secret keys embedded in their hardware to generate hash resultsfor remote verification by other trust systems also knowing the secretkeys and the hash algorithms. Unfortunately, the trust systems and theLTE systems are not effectively integrated.

TECHNICAL OVERVIEW

A Long Term Evolution (LTE) communication network transfers datacommunications for User Equipment (UE). An LTE gateway system exchangeshardware trust data with a server system to maintain hardware trust forthe LTE gateway system. An LTE access node processes a Radio ResourceControl (RRC) message that contains a trusted bearer requirement for theUE to generate an S1 Application Protocol (S1-AP) initial UE messagethat contains the trusted bearer requirement for the UE. An LTEmanagement node processes the S1-AP initial UE message to generate aGeneral Packet Radio Service Transfer Protocol (GTP) create sessionmessage that contains the trusted bearer requirement for the UE. The LTEgateway system exchanges user data for the UE between the LTE accessnode and a communication node responsive to the GTP create sessionmessage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate an LTE communication system to establish trustedbearers for UEs.

FIGS. 4-5 illustrate LTE networks to establish trusted bearers for UEs.

FIGS. 6-11 illustrate LTE and Diameter signaling to establish trustedbearers for UEs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate Long Term Evolution (LTE) communication system 100to establish trusted bearers for User Equipment (UE) 101. LTEcommunication system 100 comprises UE 101, LTE access node 110, LTEmanagement node 111, LTE gateway systems 112-113, communication nodes130-131, and server system 140. UE 101 and LTE access node 110communicate over Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling link 122. LTEaccess node 110 and LTE management node 111 communicate over S1-APsignaling link 123. LTE management node 111 and LTE gateway systems112-113 communicate over S11 General Packet Radio Service TransferProtocol (GTP) signaling link 124.

UE 101 and LTE access node 110 also communicate over LTE bearer 102. LTEaccess node 110 and LTE gateway systems 112-113 communicate overrespective LTE bearers 103-104. LTE gateway systems 112-113 andcommunication nodes 130-131 communicate over respective data links105-106.

Server system 140 and UE 101 communicate over trust signaling link 141.Server system 140 and LTE access node 110 communicate over trustsignaling link 142. Server system 140 and LTE management node 111communicate over trust signaling link 143. Server system 140 and LTEgateway system 112 communicate over trust signaling link 144. Serversystem 140 and communication node 103 communicate over trust signalinglink 145. Trust signaling links 141-145 may be transported by portionsof signaling links 122-124 and bearers 102, 103, and 105. Note thatserver system 140 does not typically communicate with LTE gateway system113 or with communication node 131.

UE 101 could be a phone, tablet computer, media device, or some otherapparatus having a wireless LTE transceiver. UE 101 includes processingcircuitry and memory that store and execute various software modules. UE101 comprises communication transceivers, such as antennas, ports, businterfaces, signal processors, memory, and software.

LTE access node 110 may be a wireless access node of various types suchas an Enhanced Node B, picocell, femtocell, hotspot, repeater, and thelike. LTE access node 110 includes components like an antenna,amplifier, modulator, computer, and communication ports. LTE access node110 comprises processing circuitry and memory that store and executevarious software modules, and LTE access node 110 may include virtualmachines running on standard server systems.

LTE management node 111 may be a controller of various types like aMobility Management Entity (MME), Home Subscriber System (HSS), andapplication server. LTE management node 111 includes a computer, businterface, and communication ports that have processing circuitry andmemory to store and execute various software modules. LTE managementnode 111 may comprise virtual machines running on standard serversystems.

LTE gateway systems 112-113 may be packet gateways of various types likea Serving Gateway (S-GW), Packet Data Network Gateway (P-GW), High SpeedPacket Access Gateway (HSPA-GW), High Rate Packet Data Gateway(HRPD-GW), Evolved Packet Data Gateway (ePDG), Multimedia BroadcastMulticast Service Gateway (M-GW), Broadcast Multicast Service Center(BM-SC), and/or some other type of data packet interface into an LTEsystem. LTE gateway systems 112-113 typically include Policy Chargingand Rules Functions (PCRFs) and On-line Charging Systems (OCSs) as well.LTE gateway systems 112-113 include computers, bus interfaces, andcommunication ports that comprise processing circuitry and memorydevices to store and execute various software modules. LTE gatewaysystems 112-113 may comprise virtual machines running on standard serversystems.

Server system 140 establishes and maintains hardware trust with thehardware in LTE gateway system 112, and typically with the otherhardware systems in UE 101, access node 110, and communication node 130.The hardware trust is first established within each hardware system thatsupports elements 101, 110, 112, and 130 by loading trust softwaremodules to assert physical control over data access to hardwaremicroprocessors, bus interfaces, memories, communication ports, and thelike. The trust software modules read secret keys physically embedded inthe hardware and transfer encoded versions of the secret keys to serversystem 140 to maintain hardware trust. For example, server system 140might repeatedly transfer random numbers to gateway system 112, andsystem 112 would then perform a one-way hash on the random numbers withits secret key and return the hash results to server system 140. Serversystem 140 then compares the received hash results to its ownself-generated hash results to verify the hardware trust of gatewaysystem 112. Server system 140 includes a computer, bus interface, andcommunication ports that comprise processing circuitry and memory tostore and execute various software modules. Server system 140 mayinclude virtual machines running on standard server systems.

Communication nodes 130-131 comprise routers, switches, servers,databases, computers, user devices, or some other type of packetcommunication system.

In the following discussion, signaling messages are enumerated with thesame reference numerals as the signaling links that they traverse. Forexample, an RRC message on RRC signaling link 122 is referred to as RRCmessage 122.

In operation, LTE gateway system 112 exchanges hardware trust data 144with server system 140 to maintain hardware trust for LTE gateway system112. Server system 140 may also exchange hardware trust data with UE101, access node 110, and communication node 130, but server system 140does not exchange hardware trust data with gateway system 113 orcommunication node 131.

UE 101 wirelessly synchronizes with LTE access node 110 during aninitial RRC procedure over RRC link 122. UE 101 then transfers RRCmessage 122 to access node 110 that contains a trusted bearerrequirement for UE 101. The trusted bearer requirement means that UE 101should only communicate over hardware systems that are trusted by serversystem 140. The trusted bearer requirement may be indicated by an RRCEstablishment Cause, Non-Access Stratum (NAS) information, or some otherdata field in RRC message 122.

LTE access node 110 processes RRC message 122 that contains the trustedbearer requirement for UE 101 to generate S1-AP initial UE message 123that contains the trusted bearer requirement for UE 101. The trustedbearer requirement may be indicated by the Establishment Cause, NASinformation, or some other data field in S1-AP message 123. LTE accessnode 110 transfers S1-AP initial UE message 123 that contains thetrusted bearer requirement to LTE management node 111.

LTE management node 111 processing S1-AP initial UE message 123 togenerate S11 GTP create session message 124 that contains the trustedbearer requirement for UE 101. The trusted bearer requirement may beindicated by Tunnel Endpoint Identifier (TEID) data, Access Point Name(APN) data, or some other data field in S11 GTP signaling 124.

UE 101 and LTE access node 110 wirelessly exchange user data over bearer102. LTE access node 110 and LTE gateway system 112 exchange the userdata over bearer 103. LTE gateway system 112 and communication node 130exchange the user data over communication link 105 responsive to S11 GTPcreate session message 124.

In some examples, an MME in LTE management node 111 processes S1-APinitial UE message 123 to generate a Diameter message that contains thetrusted bearer requirement for UE 101. An HSS in LTE management node 111then processes the trusted bearer requirement in the Diameter message togenerate a Diameter response that contains an Access Point Name (APN)for trusted LTE gateway system 112. If the trusted bearer requirementwere not in the Diameter message, then the HSS could have selected adifferent APN for untrusted gateway system 113. The MME processes theDiameter response with the APN for trusted LTE gateway system 112 togenerate S11 GTP create session message 124. Specifically, the MMEprocesses the APN to identify a P-GW in LTE gateway system 112.

In some examples, an S-GW in LTE gateway system 112 processes S11 GTPcreate session message 124 having the trusted bearer requirement togenerate an S5 GTP create session message that contains the trustedbearer requirement for UE 101. A P-GW in LTE gateway system 112 thenprocesses the S5 GTP create session message to generate a Diametermessage that contains the trusted bearer requirement. A PCRF in LTEgateway system 112 processes the Diameter message having the trustedbearer requirement for UE 101 to generate a Diameter response thatcontains additional requirements for the trusted bearer for UE 101. TheP-GW processes the Diameter response to implement the trusted bearer forUE 101.

In some examples, LTE access node 110 exchanges hardware trust data withserver system 140 to maintain hardware trust for a trusted hardwarepartition of LTE access node 110. LTE access node 110 exchanges the userdata between UE 101 and LTE gateway system 112 through the trustedhardware partition of LTE access node 110 responsive to the trustedbearer requirement for UE 101 in RRC signaling 122 and/or S1-APsignaling 123.

Referring to FIG. 2, LTE gateway system 112 exchanges hardware trustdata 124 with trusted server system 140 to maintain hardware trust forgateway system 112 (201). LTE access node 110 processes RRC message 122that contains a trusted bearer requirement for UE 101 to generate S1-APinitial UE message 123 that contains the trusted bearer requirement forUE 101 (202). The trusted bearer requirement means that UE 101 shouldcommunicate over hardware systems that are trusted by server system 140.LTE management node 111 processes S1-AP initial UE message 123 thatcontains the trusted bearer requirement for UE 101 to generate S11 GTPcreate session message 124 that contains the trusted bearer requirementfor UE 101 (203). LTE gateway system 112 exchanges user data for UE 101between LTE access node 110 and communication node 130 responsive to S11GTP create session message 124 (204). Note that additional LTE messagingtakes place in a supporting and contemporaneous manner to that above inorder to implement this LTE bearer, but this supporting signaling hasbeen omitted from the discussion for clarity to teach innovativeaspects.

Referring to FIG. 3, an exemplary configuration and operation for LTEcommunication system 100 is described, although system features may varyin other examples. Various network elements are shown on FIG. 3 withtheir home system indicated in parentheses. For example, an MME is shownwith a parenthetical notation for LTE management node 111, and a P-GW isshown with a parenthetical notation for LTE gateway system 112. Forclarity, these networks elements are enumerated below using thereference numerals of their home systems, so the MME is referred as MME111, and the P-GW is referred to as P-GW 112.

Trust server 140 exchanges hardware trust data with NodeB 110 toestablish and maintain remote hardware trust for trusted NodeB 110.Trust server 140 exchanges hardware trust data with S-GW 112 toestablish and maintain remote hardware trust for trusted S-GW 112. Trustserver 140 exchanges hardware trust data with P-GW 112 to establish andmaintain remote hardware trust for trusted P-GW 112. Although not shownon FIG. 3, trust server 140 may also exchange hardware trust data withUE 101 to establish and maintain hardware trust for UE 101. The hardwaretrust verification for UE 101 may be periodic or be performed inresponse to UE rules in HSS 111 or in PCRF 112.

UE 101 transfers an RRC message to NodeB 110 that contains a trustedbearer requirement for UE 101. The trusted bearer requirement means thatUE 101 should only communicate over hardware systems that are trusted bytrust server 140. The trusted bearer requirement may be indicated by anRRC Establishment Cause, NAS information, or some data other field inthe RRC signaling. NodeB 110 processes the RRC message with the trustedbearer requirement to generate an S1-AP initial UE message that containsthe trusted bearer requirement for UE 101. NodeB 110 transfers the S1-APinitial UE message to MME 111.

MME 111 processes the S1-AP initial UE message to generate a Diametermessage that contains the trusted bearer requirement for UE 101. The MMEtransfers the Diameter message to HSS 111. HSS 111 processes the trustedbearer requirement for UE 101 from the Diameter message to identify atrusted APN for trusted P-GW 112. HSS 111 sends a Diameter response toMME 111 having the trusted APN.

MME 111 processes the Diameter response with the trusted APN for trustedP-GW 112 to generate an S11 GTP create session message. MME 111transfers the S11 GTP create session message with the trusted APN totrusted S-GW 112. Trusted S-GW 112 processes the S11 GTP create sessionmessage having the trusted APN to generate an S5 GTP create sessionmessage that contains the trusted APN for UE 101. S-GW 112 transfers theS5 GTP create session message to trusted P-GW 112.

Trusted P-GW 112 processes the S5 GTP create session message to generatea Diameter message that contains the trusted APN. P-GW 112 transfers theDiameter message with the trusted APN to PCRF 112. PCRF 112 processesthe Diameter message having the trusted APN for UE 101 to identify aQuality-of-Service (QoS) Class Indicator for a trusted bearer for UE101. PCRF 112 transfers a Diameter response that contains the trustQCI—and possibly additional trust requirements for the trusted bearer.For example, PCRF 112 may process the APN and a UE ID to add arequirement that trust server 140 perform a hardware trust verificationon UE 101 during the data session.

P-GW 112 processes the Diameter response to generate and transfer an S5GTP create session response with the trust QCI to S-GW 112. S-GW 112processes the S5 GTP create session response to generate and transfer anS11 GTP create session response with the trust QCI to MME 111. MME 111processes the S11 GTP create session response to generate and transferan S1-AP initial context set-up request with the trust QCI to NodeB 110.NodeB 110 processes the S1-AP initial context set-up request to generateand transfer an RRC connection reconfiguration message with the trustQCI to UE 101.

In response to the above messaging, UE 101 and trusted NodeB 110wirelessly exchange user data over trusted bearer 102 based on the trustQCI. Trusted NodeB 110 and trusted S-GW 112 exchange the user data overtrusted bearer 103 based on the trust QCI. Trusted S-GW 112 and trustedP-GW 112 exchange the user data over a trusted bearer based on the trustQCI. Trusted P-GW 112 exchanges the user data with communication node130 over trusted data link 105 based on the trust QCI.

As stated above, additional LTE messaging takes place in a supportingand contemporaneous manner to that above in order to implement this LTEbearer. This supporting signaling has been omitted from the discussionfor clarity to teach innovative aspects.

FIG. 4 illustrates LTE communication network 400 to establish a trustedbearer for UE 401. LTE communication network 400 is an example ofcommunication system 100, although system 100 may use alternativeconfigurations and operations. LTE communication network 400 comprisesUE 401, eNodeB 410, S-GW 411, P-GW 412, communication node 413, MME 415,HSS 416, PCRF 417, S-GW 421, P-GW 422, communication node 423, S-GW 431,P-GW 432, communication node 433, and trust server 440.

Trust server 440 establishes and maintains hardware trust with UE 401,eNodeB 410, S-GW 411, P-GW 412, and communications node 413. Thehardware trust is first established within each hardware system thatoperates network elements 401, 410, 411, 412, 413, 440 by loading trustsoftware modules to assert physical control over data access to hardwaremicroprocessors, bus interfaces, memories, communication ports, and thelike. The trust software modules read secret keys physically embedded inthe hardware and transfer encoded versions of the secret keys tomaintain hardware trust. In this example, trust server 440 repeatedlytransfers random numbers to UE 401, eNodeB 410, S-GW 411, P-GW 412, andcommunications node 413, and these systems hash the random numbers withtheir secret keys to return hash results to trust server 440. Trustserver 440 then compares the received hash results to self-generatedhash results to establish or verify the hardware trust.

Through a power-up, movement, or hand-over, UE 401 detects eNodeB 410and responsively exchanges LTE RRC signaling with eNodeB 410. The RRCsignaling exchange includes a trusted bearer requirement from UE 401.The trusted bearer requirement may be triggered in UE 401 by a modeswitch, application, location, time, and the like. The trusted bearerrequirement may be included in the Establishment Cause, NAS information,and/or some other portion of the RRC signaling. If the RRC signalingindicates a trusted bearer requirement for UE 401, then eNodeB 410allocates trusted hardware to exchange resource blocks with UE 401. Insome cases, only trusted hardware is available in eNodeB 410.

eNodeB 410 transfers an S1-AP message to MME 415 that indicates thetrusted bearer requirement for UE 401 in response to the trusted bearerrequirement in the RRC signaling. MME 415 transfers a Diameter requestmessage to HSS 416 that indicates the trusted bearer requirement for UE401 responsive to the trusted bearer requirement in the S1-AP message.HSS 416 processes the Diameter request message to generate a Diameterresponse message. Specifically, HSS 416 processes the trusted bearerrequirement to select a trusted APN that uses trusted hardware.Typically, HSS 416 also processes the IMSI, PLMN, RAT type, and servingnetwork to further refine the trusted APN selection. In this example,HSS 416 selects an APN that uses trusted gateways 411-412 andcommunication node 413 in response to the trusted bearer requirement.HSS 416 transfers the Diameter response message to MME 415. The Diameterresponse message indicates the trusted APN and associated APNinformation like a trusted P-GW ID, PDN type, default QCI, and defaultAMBR data.

MME 415 processes the Diameter response message to generate an S11 GTPmessage. The S11 GTP message indicates the trusted APN and trusted P-GWID among other data. MME 415 transfers the S11 GTP create sessionrequest to S-GW 411. S-GW 411 processes the S11 GTP message to generatean S5 GTP message. The S5 GTP message also includes trusted APN andtrusted P-GW ID. S-GW 411 transfers the S5 GTP create session request toP-GW 412.

P-GW 412 processes the trusted APN and other data to identify an IPaddress for UE 401. P-GW 412 processes the S5 GTP message to transfer aDiameter request to PCRF 417. The Diameter request indicates the trustedAPN, default QCI, and default AMBR. PCRF 417 processes the Diameterrequest to generate a Diameter response. In particular, PCRF 417 appliesQoS and accounting rules for UE 401 based various data inputs includingthe trusted bearer requirement. For example, PCRF 417 may process thetrusted APN and serving network ID to select a new QCI for the trustedbearer for UE 401. PCRF 417 may also apply trust policies, such ason-demand UE and/or gateway hardware verification and the like. PCRF 417transfers the Diameter response to P-GW 412.

P-GW 412 processes the Diameter response to generate an S5 GTP response.The S5 GTP response indicates the UE IP address and any new QCIs, AMBRs,and trust requirements. P-GW 412 transfers the S5 GTP response to S-GW411. S-GW 411 processes the S5 GTP response to generate an S11 GTPresponse. The S11 GTP response indicates the UE IP address and any newQCIs, AMBRs, and trust requirements. S-GW 411 transfers the S11 GTPresponse to MME 415.

MME 415 processes the S11 GTP response to generate an S1-AP message. TheS1-AP message indicates the UE IP address, the GTP TEIDs for the userand control planes, the QCI, AMBR, and the like. MME 415 transfers theS1-AP message to eNodeB 410. eNodeB 410 processes the S1-AP message togenerate an RRC message that indicates the UE IP address, radio bearer,and NAS information. eNodeB 410 transfers the RRC message to UE 401. UE401, eNodeB 410, and MME 415 exchange additional messaging to setcontext before MME 415 transfers S11 modify bearer signaling to S-GW411, and S-GW 411 transfers S5 modify bearer signaling to P-GW 412. UE401 and communication node 413 then exchange user data over eNodeB 410,S-GW 411, and P-GW 412—all using trusted hardware.

Trust server 440 does not establish hardware trust with S-GW 421, P-GW422, and communications node 423. In another example, UE 401 detectseNodeB 410 and responsively exchanges LTE RRC signaling with eNodeB 410.This RRC signaling exchange does not include the trusted bearerrequirement for UE 401. The lack of the trusted bearer requirement maybe due to a mode switch, location, application, time, or the like. Ifthe RRC signaling does not indicate the trusted bearer requirement, theneNodeB 410 does not need to allocate trusted hardware for UE 401,although only trusted hardware may be available. In addition, theresulting S1-AP message to MME 415 does not include the trusted bearerrequirement, so a trusted APN is not required. Thus, HSS 416 may selectan APN that uses untrusted hardware in S-GW 421, P-GW 422, andcommunications node 423.

FIG. 5 illustrates LTE communication network 500 to establish a trustedbearer for UE 501. LTE communication network 500 is an example ofcommunication system 100 and network 400, although system 100 andnetwork 400 may use alternative configurations and operations. LTEcommunication network 500 comprises UE 501, femtocell 510, data centers1-N, and communication nodes 1-N. Data centers 1-N each host variousvirtual machine network elements including S-GW, P-GW, MME, HSS, PCRF,and the like. Data centers 1 and N include trust systems to verifyhardware trust. Data center 2 does not have a trust system. The trustsystems maintain hardware trust at data centers 1 and N through theexchange of challenge data using shared secret keys.

UE 501 detects femtocell 510 and responsively exchanges LTE RRCsignaling with femtocell 510. The RRC signaling exchange includes atrusted bearer requirement from UE 501. The trusted bearer requirementmay be triggered in UE 501 by a mode switch, application, location,time, and the like. The trusted bearer requirement may be included inthe Establishment Cause, NAS information, and/or some other portion ofthe RRC signaling. If the RRC signaling indicates a trusted bearerrequirement for UE 501, then femtocell 510 allocates trusted hardware toexchange the resource blocks with UE 501, although only trusted hardwaremay be available in femtocell 510.

Femtocell 510 transfers an S1-AP message to an MME in data center #1that indicates the trusted bearer requirement for UE 501 in response tothe trusted bearer requirement in the RRC signaling. The MME transfers aDiameter request to the HSS. The HSS selects a trusted APN that usestrusted hardware responsive to the trusted bearer requirement. In thisexample, the HSS selects an APN that uses trusted data center #1 andtrusted communication node #1. The HSS transfers a Diameter response tothe MME. The Diameter response indicates the trusted APN and associatedAPN information like a trusted P-GW ID, PDN type, default QCI, anddefault AMBR data.

The MME generates an S11 GTP message that indicates the trusted APN andtrusted P-GW ID among other data. The MME transfers the S11 GTP createsession request to the S-GW, and the S-GW transfers a corresponding S5GTP message to the P-GW. The P-GW identifies an IP address for UE 501.The P-GW processes transfers a Diameter request to the PCRF indicatingthe trusted APN, trusted P-GW ID, default QCI, and default AMBR. ThePCRF applies QoS and accounting rules for UE 501 based the trustedbearer requirement. For example, the PCRF may process the trusted APN toselect a new AMBR for the trusted bearer. The PCRF may also apply trustpolicies, such as on-demand hardware verification for UE 501 andcommunication node #1. The PCRF transfers a Diameter response to theP-GW.

The P-GW generates an S5 GTP response that indicates the UE IP addressand any new QCIs, AMBRs, and trust requirements. The P-GW transfers theS5 GTP response to the S-GW, and the S-GW transfers a corresponding S11GTP response to the MME. The MME transfers an S1-AP message to femtocell510 that indicates the GTP TEID, QCI, AMBR, and the like. Femtocell 510transfers an RRC message to UE 501 that indicates the UE IP, radiobearer, and NAS information. UE 501 and communication node #1 thenexchange user data over femtocell 510 and data center #1 using trustedhardware.

Subsequently, UE 501 detects femtocell 510 and responsively exchangesLTE RRC signaling with eNodeB 410. In this case, the RRC signaling doesnot include the trusted bearer requirement for UE 501. Femtocell 510need not use trusted hardware for UE 501, although only trusted hardwaremay be available. In addition, the resulting S1-AP message to the MMEdoes not include the trusted bearer requirement, so a trusted APN is notrequired. Femtocell 510 may use the MME in Data Center #2. The HSS mayselect an APN that uses untrusted hardware in data center #2. UE 501 andcommunication node #2 would then exchange user data over data center #2using untrusted hardware.

FIGS. 6-10 illustrate LTE signaling 600 to establish trusted bearers fora UE. LTE signaling 600 is an example of the signaling used by system100 and networks 400 and 500, although they may use alternativeconfigurations and operations. Note that some signaling data andsupporting signaling messages are omitted from the following discussionfor clarity to teach innovative aspects.

In operation, an LTE UE detects wireless signaling from an eNodeB andbegins an LTE RRC data exchange with the eNodeB. These initial randomaccess RRC messages that set timing and establish a UE ID are not shown.The UE transfers an RRC connection request message to the eNodeB. TheRRC connection request message includes UE Identifiers (IDs) like theRadio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) and International MobileSubscriber Entity (IMSI). The RRC connection request message includes anEstablishment Cause like Mobile-Originated Signaling (MO-SIG) orMobile-Originated Data (MO-DATA). The RRC connection request messagealso includes a trusted bearer requirement for the UE. In some examples,the trusted bearer requirement is indicated by the Establishment Causeitself. In other examples, the trusted bearer requirement is transferredin other RRC signaling and is not provided in the RRC connection requestmessage.

The eNodeB processes the Establishment Cause in the RRC connectionset-up message to select resource blocks for the UE. If theEstablishment Cause indicates the trusted bearer requirement for the UE,then the eNodeB allocates trusted hardware to exchange the resourceblocks with the UE. Although not shown for clarity, the eNodeB returnsan RRC connection set-up message with the pertinent LTE resource blockinformation.

The UE transfers an RRC connection set-up complete message to theeNodeB. The RRC connection set-up complete message includes UE IDs likethe IMSI. The RRC connection set-up complete message includes a PublicLand Mobile Network (PLMN) ID, MME ID, and NAS information. The RRCconnection set-up complete message also includes the trusted bearerrequirement for the UE. In some examples, the trusted bearer requirementis indicated by the NAS information. In other examples, the trustedbearer requirement is transferred in other RRC signaling and is notprovided in the RRC connection set-up complete message.

The eNodeB processes the RRC connection set-up complete message togenerate an S1-AP message. The S1-AP message includes an eNodeB/UE IDand IMSI. The S1-AP message indicates an Evolved Packet System(EPS)/IMSI attachment for an initial connection. The S1-AP messageincludes User Location Information (ULI) like tracking area, cell ID,sector ID, and the like. The S1-AP message includes the PLMN and NASinfo. The S1-AP message includes the trusted bearer requirement for theUE—possibly in the NAS information. The trusted bearer requirement forthe UE in the S1-AP message is included in response to the trustedbearer requirement in the RRC messaging. The eNodeB transfers the S1-APmessage to the MME. Thus, the eNodeB is able to implement trustedhardware for a UE on an individual attachment basis.

Referring to FIG. 7, the MME transfers a Diameter Update LocationRequest message to the HSS. The Diameter Update Location Request messageindicates host/realm for the origin and destination. The Diameter UpdateLocation Request message indicates the IMSI, ULI, PLMN, RAT type, andthe serving network. The Diameter Update Location Request messageindicates the trusted bearer requirement for the UE responsive to thetrusted bearer requirement in the S1-AP message.

The HSS processes the Diameter Update Location Request message togenerate a Diameter Update Location Response message. The HSS processesthe trusted bearer requirement from the request to select a trusted APNthat uses trusted hardware systems. Typically, the IMSI, PLMN, RAT type,and the serving network are used to further refine trusted APNselection. For example, different combinations of IMSIs, PLMNs, andserving networks may yield different trusted APNs. Thus, the HSS is ableto select trusted APNs and hardware for the UE on an individualattachment basis.

The HSS transfers the Diameter Update Location Response message to theMME. The Diameter Update Location Response message indicates thatnetwork access is granted to the UE. The Diameter Update LocationResponse message indicates the trusted APN and associated APNinformation like a trusted P-GW ID, trusted PDN ID, PDN type, QCI, AMBRdata, and the trusted bearer requirement. The trusted bearer requirementmay be indicated through the trusted APN, P-GW ID, and PDN ID.

Referring to FIG. 8, the MME processes the Diameter Update LocationResponse message to generate an S11 GTP create session request. The S11GTP create session request includes an Evolved Packet System (EPS)bearer ID and a GTP TEID for the MME control plane (MME TEID-C). The S11GTP create session request identifies the IMSI, ULI, serving network,RAT type, trusted APN, trusted P-GW ID, trusted PDN ID, PDN type, QCI,and AMBR. The S11 GTP create session request also includes the trustedbearer requirement, although this requirement may be indicated throughthe trusted APN, P-GW ID, and PDN ID. The MME transfers the S11 GTPcreate session request to the S-GW.

The S-GW processes the S11 GTP create session request to generate an S5GTP create session request. The S5 GTP create session request includesthe EPS bearer ID and GTP TEIDs for the S-GW control and user planes(S-GW TEID-C and S-GW TEID-U). The S5 GTP create session requestidentifies the IMSI, ULI, serving network, RAT type, trusted APN,trusted P-GW ID, trusted PDN ID, PDN type, QCI, and AMBR. The S5 GTPcreate session request also includes the trusted bearer requirement,although this requirement may be indicated through the trusted APN, P-GWID, and PDN ID. The S-GW transfers the S5 GTP create session request tothe P-GW.

Referring to FIG. 9, the P-GW processes the trusted APN and other datato identify an IP address for the UE. The P-GW processes the S5 GTPcreate session request to transfer a Diameter Internet ProtocolConnectivity Access Network (IP-CAN) request to the PCRF. The DiameterIP-CAN request indicates the IMSI, UE IP, ULI, serving network, RATtype, trusted APN, trusted P-GW ID, trusted PDN ID, PDN type, QCI, andAMBR. The Diameter IP-CAN request also includes the trusted bearerrequirement, although this requirement may be indicated through thetrusted APN, P-GW ID, and PDN ID.

The PCRF processes the Diameter IP-CAN request to generate a DiameterIP-CAN response. In particular, the PCRF identifies QoS and accountingrules based various data including the trusted bearer requirement. Inthis example, the PCRF processes the trusted APN, IMSI, and ULI toselect a new QCI and AMBR for the trusted bearer. The PCRF alsoprocesses the trusted APN and serving network to select order a hardwaretrust verification for the UE. Thus, the PCRF is able to implement trustpolicies on an individual trusted bearer basis. The Diameter IP-CANresponse indicates the new QCI, new AMBR, trusted bearer requirement,and the new requirement to verify hardware trust on the UE. The PCRFtransfers the Diameter IP-CAN response to the P-GW.

Referring to FIG. 10, the P-GW processes the Diameter IP-CAN response togenerate an S5 GTP create session response. The S5 GTP create sessionresponse indicates the EPS bearer ID, P-GW TEID-U, P-GW TEID-C, trustedAPN, trusted P-GW ID, trusted PDN ID, PDN type, UE IP, new QCI, and newAMBR. The S5 GTP create session request includes the trusted bearerrequirement, although this requirement may be indicated through thetrusted APN, P-GW ID, and PDN ID. The S5 GTP create session requestindicates the requirement to verify hardware trust on the UE. The P-GWtransfers the S5 GTP create session response to the S-GW.

The S-GW processes the S5 GTP create session response to generate an S11GTP create session response. The S11 GTP create session responseindicates the EPS bearer ID, S-GW TEID-U, S-GW TEID-C, trusted APN,trusted P-GW ID, trusted PDN ID, PDN type, UE IP, new QCI, and new AMBR.The S11 GTP create session request also includes the trusted bearerrequirement, although this requirement may be indicated through thetrusted APN, P-GW ID, and PDN ID. The S11 GTP create session requestindicates the requirement to verify hardware trust on the UE. The S-GWtransfers the S11 GTP create session response to the MME.

Referring to FIG. 11, the MME processes the S11 GTP create sessionresponse to generate an S1-AP initial context set-up request. The S1-APinitial context set-up request indicates S1-AP IDs for the MME, eNodeB,and UE. The S1-AP initial context set-up request indicates the TEID forthe control plane. The S1-AP initial context set-up request also has thetrusted APN, trusted PDN ID, UE IP, new QCI, new AMBR, and the trustedbearer requirement, although this requirement may be indicated throughthe trusted APN and trusted PDN ID. The S1-AP initial context set-uprequest indicates the requirement to verify hardware trust on theUE—although this could be transferred in the NAS response from the MMEto the eNodeB. The MME transfers the S1-AP initial context set-uprequest to the eNodeB.

The eNodeB processes the S1-AP initial context set-up request togenerate an RRC connection reconfiguration message. The RRC connectionreconfiguration message indicates the radio bearer and NAS information.The RRC connection reconfiguration message indicates the trusted bearerrequirement. The RRC connection reconfiguration message also indicatesthe requirement to verify hardware trust on the UE—possibly in the NASinformation.

Although not shown for clarity, additional messaging is transferredbetween the UE, eNodeB, and MME before the MME transfers S11 modifybearer signaling to the S-GW which transfers S5/S8 modify bearersignaling to the P-GW. In response, the eNodeB, S-GW, and P-GW exchangeuser data between the UE and other communication nodes over trustedhardware.

Responsive to the PCRF trust order, the MME transfers the requirement toverify hardware trust of the UE to the trust server. In response, thetrust server transfers a random number challenge to the UE, and the UEreturns a hash result based on the random number and its shared secretkey. The trust server verifies the hash result using the random numberand its own version of the shared secret key. The random number and hashresult may be exchanged with the UE for the trust server through the MMEand NAS messaging. The trust server reports the successful verificationof the hardware trust for the UE to the MME.

In some examples, the trust server and UE communicate through theeNodeB, S-GW, and P-GW over the trusted bearer responsive to NAS datafrom the MME. The MME and P-GW may block external data communicationsfor the UE until successful hardware validation is completed by thetrust server on the UE. Alternatively, the hardware validation of the UEmay be contemporaneous with the use of the trusted bearer, and an alarmcould indicate an untrusted UE. Other end-point UEs and access networksmay be operated in a like manner and federated to form end-to-end LTEbearers on-demand that are trusted at the hardware layer.

The above description and associated figures teach the best mode of theinvention. The following claims specify the scope of the invention. Notethat some aspects of the best mode may not fall within the scope of theinvention as specified by the claims. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that the features described above can be combined in variousways to form multiple variations of the invention. As a result, theinvention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above,but only by the following claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of operating a Long Term Evolution (LTE)communication network to transfer data communications for User Equipment(UE), the method comprising: in a first LTE gateway system, exchangingfirst hardware trust data with a trusted server system to maintainhardware trust for the first LTE gateway system; in an LTE access node,processing a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message that contains atrusted bearer requirement for the UE to generate an S1 ApplicationProtocol (S1-AP) initial UE message that contains the trusted bearerrequirement for the UE; in an LTE management node, processing the S1-APinitial UE message to generate a General Packet Radio Service TransferProtocol (GTP) create session message that contains the trusted bearerrequirement for the UE; and in the first LTE gateway system, exchanginguser data for the UE between the LTE access node and a communicationnode responsive to the GTP create session message.
 2. The method ofclaim 1 wherein processing the RRC message that contains the trustedbearer requirement comprises processing an establishment cause in theRRC message.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the RRC messagethat contains the trusted bearer requirement comprises processingNon-Access Stratum (NAS) data in the RRC message.
 4. The method of claim1 wherein processing the S1-AP initial UE message to generate the GTPcreate session message comprises: in a Mobility Management Entity (MME),processing the S1-AP initial UE message to generate a Diameter messagethat contains the trusted bearer requirement for the UE; and in the MME,processing a Diameter response having a trusted Access Point Name (APN)for the first LTE gateway system to generate the GTP create sessionmessage that contains the trusted APN for the UE.
 5. The method of claim4 wherein processing the S1-AP initial UE message to generate the GTPcreate session message comprises, in a Home Subscriber System (HSS),processing the Diameter message that contains the trusted bearerrequirement for the UE to generate the Diameter response that containsthe trusted APN for the first LTE gateway system.
 6. The method of claim4 wherein processing the S1-AP initial UE message to generate the GTPcreate session message comprises, in the MME, processing the Diameterresponse that contains the trusted APN for the first LTE gateway systemto identify a Packet Data Network Gateway (P-GW) in the first gatewaysystem.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the GTP create session messagecomprises an S11 GTP create session message and wherein exchanging theuser data for the UE between the LTE access node and the communicationnode comprises: in a Serving Gateway (S-GW), processing the S11 GTPcreate session message to generate an S5 GTP create session message thatcontains a trusted Access Point Name (APN) for the trusted bearer forthe UE; and in a Packet Data Network Gateway (P-GW), processing the S5GTP create session message that contains the trusted APN for the UE togenerate a Diameter message that contains the trusted APN for the UE andprocessing a Diameter response having a trusted Quality-of-Service ClassIndicator (QCI) for a trusted bearer for the UE.
 8. The method of claim7 wherein exchanging the user data for the UE between the LTE accessnode and the communication node comprises, in a Policy Control and RulesFunction (PCRF), processing the Diameter message that contains thetrusted APN for the UE to generate the Diameter response that containsthe trusted QCI for the trusted bearer for the UE.
 9. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising: in the LTE access node, exchangingadditional hardware trust data with the trusted server system tomaintain remote hardware trust for a trusted hardware partition of theLTE access node; in the LTE access node, exchanging the user databetween the UE and the first LTE gateway system through the trustedhardware partition of the LTE access node.
 10. The method of claim 9wherein exchanging the user data between the UE and the first LTEgateway system through the trusted hardware partition of the LTE accessnode comprises exchanging the user data through the trusted hardwarepartition responsive to an S1-AP initial context set-up message from aMobility Management Entity (MME) that contains the trusted QCI for thetrusted bearer for the UE.
 11. A Long Term Evolution (LTE) communicationnetwork to transfer data communications for User Equipment (UE), the LTEcommunication network comprising: a first LTE gateway system configuredto exchange first hardware trust data with a trusted server system tomaintain hardware trust for the first LTE gateway system; an LTE accessnode configured to process a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message thatcontains a trusted bearer requirement for the UE to generate an S1Application Protocol (S1-AP) initial UE message that contains thetrusted bearer requirement for the UE; an LTE management node configuredto process the S1-AP initial UE message to generate a General PacketRadio Service Transfer Protocol (GTP) create session message thatcontains the trusted bearer requirement for the UE; and the first LTEgateway system configured to exchange user data for the UE between theLTE access node and a communication node responsive to the GTP createsession message.
 12. The LTE communication network of claim 11 whereinthe trusted bearer requirement comprises an establishment cause in theRRC message.
 13. The LTE communication network of claim 11 wherein thetrusted bearer requirement comprises Non-Access Stratum (NAS) data inthe RRC message.
 14. The LTE communication network of claim 11 whereinthe LTE management node comprises a Mobility Management Entity (MME)configured to process the S1-AP initial UE message to generate aDiameter message that contains the trusted bearer requirement for the UEand process a Diameter response having an trusted Access Point Name(APN) for the first LTE gateway system to generate the GTP createsession message that contains the trusted APN for the UE.
 15. The LTEcommunication network of claim 14 wherein the LTE management nodecomprises a Home Subscriber System (HSS) configured to process theDiameter message that contains the trusted bearer requirement for the UEto generate the Diameter response that contains the trusted APN for thefirst LTE gateway system.
 16. The LTE communication network of claim 14wherein the LTE management node comprises the MME configured to processthe Diameter response that contains the trusted APN for the first LTEgateway system to identify a Packet Data Network Gateway (P-GW) in thefirst gateway system.
 17. The LTE communication network of claim 11wherein the LTE gateway system comprises: a Serving Gateway (S-GW)configured to process the S11 GTP create session message to generate anS5 GTP create session message that contains a trusted Access Point Name(APN) for the UE; and a Packet Data Network Gateway (P-GW) configured toprocess the S5 GTP create session message that contains the trusted APNfor the UE to generate a Diameter message that contains the trusted APNfor the UE and to process a Diameter response having a trustedQuality-of-Service Class Indicator (QCI) for a trusted bearer for theUE.
 18. The LTE communication network of claim 17 wherein the LTEgateway system comprises a Policy Control and Rules Function (PCRF)configured to process the Diameter message having the trusted APN forthe UE to generate the Diameter response having the trusted QCI for thetrusted bearer for the UE.
 19. The LTE communication network of claim 11wherein the LTE access node is configured to: exchange additionalhardware trust data with the trusted server system to maintain remotehardware trust for a trusted hardware partition of the LTE access node;and exchange the user data between the UE and the first LTE gatewaysystem through the trusted hardware partition of the LTE access node.20. The LTE communication network of claim 19 wherein the LTE accessnode is configured to exchange the user data through the trustedhardware partition responsive to an S1-AP initial context set-up messagefrom a Mobility Management Entity (MME) that contains the trusted QCIfor the trusted bearer for the UE.